Although it is sometimes claimed that consuming caffeine at high levels does not cause insomnia, statistical evidence shows that it...

GMAT Critical Reasoning : (CR) Questions

Source: Mock

Critical Reasoning

Assumption

MEDIUM

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Notes

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Although it is sometimes claimed that consuming caffeine at high levels does not cause insomnia, statistical evidence shows that it does. Study after study has found that people with high levels of caffeine consumption from beverages such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks are far more likely to suffer from insomnia than people who consume little or no caffeine.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

Consumption of caffeine from sources other than coffee, tea, and soft drinks is unlikely to cause insomnia.

Caffeine consumption is the only commonly occurring cause of insomnia.

People suffering from insomnia do not typically respond to their lack of sleep by consuming much more caffeine than they would if they did not suffer from insomnia.

The only evidence available to show whether caffeine causes insomnia is statistical evidence showing correlations between caffeine consumption and insomnia.

Anyone who regularly consumes caffeine in more than moderate quantities will suffer from insomnia.

Solution

Passage Analysis:

Text from Passage	Analysis
Although it is sometimes claimed that consuming caffeine at high levels does not cause insomnia, statistical evidence shows that it does.	What it says: Some people claim high caffeine doesn't cause insomnia, but stats prove it does What it does: Sets up a disagreement and immediately picks a side using statistical evidence What it is: Author's main claim contradicting others
Study after study has found that people with high levels of caffeine consumption from beverages such as coffee, tea, and soft drinks are far more likely to suffer from insomnia than people who consume little or no caffeine.	What it says: Multiple studies show high caffeine users get insomnia way more than low/no caffeine users What it does: Backs up the author's claim with specific research evidence What it is: Supporting evidence from research Visualization: High caffeine group: 60-70% insomnia vs Low/no caffeine group: 15-20% insomnia

Argument Flow:

The argument starts by acknowledging an opposing view (caffeine doesn't cause insomnia) but immediately counters it with statistical evidence. It then supports this counter-claim with research findings showing a clear correlation between high caffeine consumption and insomnia rates.

Main Conclusion:

High levels of caffeine consumption do cause insomnia, contrary to what some people claim.

Logical Structure:

The author uses statistical evidence and multiple studies as premises to prove that caffeine causes insomnia. The logic assumes that the correlation found in studies (high caffeine users have more insomnia) proves causation (caffeine causes the insomnia).

Prethinking:

Question type:

Assumption - We need to find what the argument must assume to be true for the conclusion to hold. This is about identifying unstated premises that are essential for the logic to work.

Precision of Claims

The argument makes a causal claim (high caffeine CAUSES insomnia) based on correlational evidence (high caffeine users are MORE LIKELY to have insomnia). The precision involves the leap from correlation to causation.

Strategy

To find assumptions, we need to look for ways the conclusion could be false while keeping the facts intact. The key gap here is: the studies show correlation (high caffeine users have more insomnia), but the author concludes causation (caffeine causes insomnia). We need to identify what must be true for this correlation-to-causation jump to be valid.

Answer Choices Explained

Consumption of caffeine from sources other than coffee, tea, and soft drinks is unlikely to cause insomnia.

This choice focuses on alternative caffeine sources, but the argument doesn't depend on this. The studies mentioned specifically looked at coffee, tea, and soft drinks, and the conclusion is based on that evidence. Whether other caffeine sources cause insomnia doesn't affect the validity of concluding that the studied sources do cause insomnia. The argument doesn't need to assume anything about unstudied caffeine sources.

Caffeine consumption is the only commonly occurring cause of insomnia.

This is way too strong. The argument only needs to show that caffeine is A cause of insomnia, not THE only cause. We can easily imagine the argument being true even if stress, medical conditions, or other factors also cause insomnia. The conclusion that caffeine causes insomnia doesn't require ruling out all other potential causes.

People suffering from insomnia do not typically respond to their lack of sleep by consuming much more caffeine than they would if they did not suffer from insomnia.

This addresses the critical gap in the argument. The studies show correlation: high caffeine users have more insomnia. But the author concludes causation: caffeine causes insomnia. However, what if people who already have insomnia start drinking more caffeine to stay alert during the day? Then insomnia would be causing high caffeine consumption, not the other way around. For the argument's causal conclusion to hold, we must assume this reverse causation isn't happening - that insomniacs don't typically increase their caffeine intake as a response to poor sleep.

The only evidence available to show whether caffeine causes insomnia is statistical evidence showing correlations between caffeine consumption and insomnia.

The argument doesn't need to assume this is the ONLY type of evidence available. Maybe there's biochemical evidence, sleep lab studies, or other research types. The argument works fine using the statistical evidence it has, regardless of what other evidence might exist. This assumption isn't necessary for the conclusion.

Anyone who regularly consumes caffeine in more than moderate quantities will suffer from insomnia.

This is much stronger than what the argument claims. The studies show that high caffeine users are 'far more likely' to have insomnia, not that they will definitely have it. The argument allows for some high caffeine consumers to avoid insomnia - it's about increased probability, not certainty.

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